--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Bible says somewhere that we are…" description: "\"The Bible says somewhere that we are desperately selfish. I think we would have discovered that fact without the Bible.\" — Abraham Lincoln" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/510/abraham-lincoln-88_bible_the-bible-says-somewhere-that-we-are-des_1234646.png" --- # The Bible says somewhere that we are desperately selfish… ![“The Bible says somewhere that we are desperately selfish. I think we would have discovered that fact without the Bible.” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/510/abraham-lincoln-88_bible_the-bible-says-somewhere-that-we-are-des_1234646.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/510/abraham-lincoln-88_bible_the-bible-says-somewhere-that-we-are-des_1234646.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/510/abraham-lincoln-88_bible_the-bible-says-somewhere-that-we-are-des_1234646.png) > “The Bible says somewhere that we are desperately selfish. I think we would have discovered that fact without the Bible.” [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The Bible labels humanity as selfish, but we likely recognize this without scripture. **In simple terms:** Bible says we’re selfish, but we’d know that anyway. Key Takeaway Selfishness is a universal human trait, not solely biblical. Themes human nature morality religion self-awareness Mood thoughtful critical Type historical philosophical When to use this quote - personal reflection - moral teaching - religious discourse Key Concepts ethical introspection philosophical critique Questions to Reflect On - Do we need religious texts to identify human flaws? - How does this view affect moral responsibility? A Different Perspective Attribution to Lincoln is likely inaccurate, affecting credibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Bible Says](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible-says/) [Desperately Selfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desperately-selfish-3832094/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Selfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish/) [Selfish Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish-think-307378/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Woe unto the world because of offenses; for it must needs be that offenses come, but woe to that man by whom the offense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/woe-unto-the-world-because-of-offenses-for-it-must-needs-be-that/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [It occurred to me that actors are selfish, and they think that the world revolves around them. For one year, I quit, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-sarbh/it-occurred-to-me-that-actors-are-selfish-and-they-think-that-the/) [Jim Sarbh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-sarbh/) > [“I know it's selfish of me to even think of sayin this. You deserve a guy who'll... pluck the stars from the sky and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moira-young/i-know-it-s-selfish-of-me-to-even-think-of-sayin-this-you-deserve-a/) [Moira Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moira-young/) > [I learned a long time ago the wisest thing I can do is be on my own side, be an advocate for myself and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-learned-a-long-time-ago-the-wisest-thing-i-can-do-is-be-on-my-own-2/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm selfish, I think. I think an artist has to be. I'm not worried about what people think. 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But there is someone out there who will show me what real, honest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-collins/that-s-not-love-that-s-not-how-love-is-supposed-to-feel-but-there-is/) [Lily Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-collins/) > [My friends are so fucking selfish. They think of no one but themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-friends-are-so-fucking-selfish-they-think-of-no-one-but-themselves/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For myself, suffering doesnt make me a good person; it makes me selfish. Why do we think that people who have less should find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-boo/for-myself-suffering-doesnt-make-me-a-good-person-it-makes-me-selfish/) [Katherine Boo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-boo/) ## More by Abraham Lincoln > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. 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How little they know, whereof they speak! There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/we-know-southern-men-declare-that-their-slaves-are-better-off-than/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I am glad to see that a system of labor prevails under which laborers can strike when they want to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-am-glad-to-see-that-a-system-of-labor-prevails-under-which-laborers/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I don't like that man. I must get to know him better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-don-t-like-that-man-i-must-get-to-know-him-better/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [In this sad world of ours, sorrow comes to all; and to the young, it comes with bitterest agony because it takes them unawares.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/in-this-sad-world-of-ours-sorrow-comes-to-all-and-to-the-young-it/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The man does not live who is more devoted to peace than I am. None who would do more to preserve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/the-man-does-not-live-who-is-more-devoted-to-peace-than-i-am-none-who/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) [Explore all 1,437 Abraham Lincoln quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) ## More Bible quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“The Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose, Sergeant,’ Anthony Payne replied. ‘That is from The Merchant of Venice, but it holds great truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arnold/the-devil-can-cite-scripture-for-his-purpose-sergeant-anthony-payne/) [Michael Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arnold/) > [When you put your hand on the Bible, you are saying something much stronger than just telling your peers that you're going to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-greenwood/when-you-put-your-hand-on-the-bible-you-are-saying-something-much/) [Lee Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-greenwood/) > [“Scripture also teaches that human beings are morally responsible creatures”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-peterson/scripture-also-teaches-that-human-beings-are-morally-responsible/) [Robert A. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-peterson/) > [“The wife of a junior officer cooped up in a horrible canvas partition in steerage for five months wrote: "I had enjoyed much peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-taylor/the-wife-of-a-junior-officer-cooped-up-in-a-horrible-canvas-partition/) [Stephen Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-taylor/) > [O Word of God incarnate . . . It is the golden casket Where gems of truth are stored; It is the heaven-drawn picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walsham-how/o-word-of-god-incarnate-it-is-the-golden-casket-where-gems-of-truth/) [Walsham How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walsham-how/) > [How can I trust that the Bible is reliable?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/how-can-i-trust-that-the-bible-is-reliable/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [Every plant which my heavenly father has not planted with be uprooted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/every-plant-which-my-heavenly-father-has-not-planted-with-be-uprooted/) [Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/) > [Where I come from you're not raised to think on your own. It's not that you're pushed to read the Bible. 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